Events

Seminar on "Distributed Decision-Making and Control Integration Design for Heterogeneous Networked Systems" by Dr Chengxin Xian

Date: 7 November 2025, Friday Time: 4:30 PM Venue: FYW-3316, City University of Hong Kong Zoom Meeting ID: 859 8869 4437 Password: 123456 Speaker: Dr Chengxin Xian, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Abstract: In recent years, with the vigorous development of swarm intelligence in agriculture, industry, economy and other fields, the cooperative decision-making and control problem of large-scale intelligent, autonomous, and multi-functional swarm unmanned systems has received extensive attention. Among them, heterogeneous networked systems are more conducive to the implementation of cluster collaborative tasks due to their stronger task adaptability, higher system robustness, and higher resource utilization. This report mainly focuses on two kinds of decision-making and control problems, cooperative optimization and non-cooperative game control in heterogeneous networked systems, and constructs a decision-making and control integrated architecture. Based on output regulation theory, event-triggered control techniques and dynamic gain regulation methods, the decision-making and control scheme of cooperative optimization and non-cooperative game for heterogeneous networked systems is given. It achieves a fully closed loop, high robustness, and strong real-time control pattern. Finally, we discuss the prospects of integrating cooperative optimization and non-cooperative game problems with artificial intelligence techniques such as reinforcement learning and data-driven methods.   Speaker’s Bio: Chengxin Xian received the B.Eng. degree in Transportation Equipment and Control Engineering and Ph.D. degree in Control Science and Engineering from the School of Automation, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China in 2019 and 2024, respectively. Currently, he is a Post-doctoral Fellow in the Department of Applied Mathematics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Prior to this, he was a Post-doctoral Fellow in the Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong. His research interests include cooperative control and optimization of clustered unmanned systems and their applications to multi-robot systems. Dr. Xian was the recipient of the Best Paper Awards of IFAC LSS in 2022, and IEEE ICUS in 2025.   WEBINAR WEBSITE: https://www.ee.cityu.edu.hk/~cccn/ https://www.ee.cityu.edu.hk/~cccn/centre-seminars.htm

Teach Your Mates - Exchange Experience Sharing Session

To help demystify the exchange experience, EEE recently hosted an Exchange Experience Sharing Session for Year 1 and Year 2 undergraduates. The event, held on 7 November 2025, provided a valuable platform for prospective exchange students to address their concerns directly with peers who have successfully navigated life abroad. The session featured candid conversations with two upper-year students: LIU Xinyan (BSc in Artificial Intelligence & Information Engineering) and KWAN Ho Tin (BEng in Electrical Engineering), alongside insights from GEO Staff. They shared firsthand accounts of adapting to new academic systems and overcoming language barriers. Practical advice on accommodation, budgeting, and embracing cultural differences was also a key focus of the discussion. The event successfully achieved its goal of easing anxieties and equipping students with realistic expectations and actionable tips for their future exchange planning. The Department extends its sincere thanks to the speakers for their insightful contributions and to all the students who participated.   Event Video

Seminar on "Resilient Control and Stealthy Attack for Networked Switched Systems" by Dr Rui Zhao

Date: 31 October 2025, Friday Time: 4:30 PM Venue: FYW-3316, City University of Hong Kong Zoom Meeting ID: 859 8869 4437 Password: 123456 Speaker: Dr Rui Zhao, Tianjin University, Tianjin Abstract: This presentation focuses on resilient control and stealthy attack design for networked switched systems, addressing critical cybersecurity challenges in cyber-physical systems (CPS). The work addresses these challenges through a comprehensive framework that includes attack detection, system resilience, and attack strategy analysis. 1) Developed a new method to detect different types of cyberattacks. 2) Designed a defense strategy to counteract DoS attacks and deception attacks which fully utilizes the switching signal. 3) Devised stealthy attacks for switched systems when considering that the switching signal is unknown.   Speaker’s Bio: Rui Zhao received the bachelor’s degree in automation and PhD in control science and engineering with the School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Tianjin University, China. Her research interests include event-triggered control, switched system, and network security.     WEBINAR WEBSITE: https://www.ee.cityu.edu.hk/~cccn/ https://www.ee.cityu.edu.hk/~cccn/centre-seminars.htm

Seminar on "Advances in Speaker Characterization From Speaker Recognition to Timbre Attribute Detection" by Dr Liping Chen and Mr Junyi Peng

Date: 27 October 2025, Monday Time: 3:45 pm Venue: DE306,  The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Speaker: Dr Liping Chen and Mr Junyi Peng

Seminar on "Building Hurricane-Resilient Urban Grids by Climate-Informed System Hardening Optimization" by Mr Shuo Li

Date: 24 October 2025, Friday Time: 4:30 PM Venue: FYW-3316, City University of Hong Kong Zoom Meeting ID: 859 8869 4437 Password: 123456 Speaker: Mr Shuo Li, City University of Hong Kong Abstract: Climate-driven hurricanes pose escalating threats to urban electricity distribution networks, undermining energy security and community wellbeing. A key challenge lies in developing integrated resilience strategies that effectively address emerging climate patterns—including fewer but more intense hurricanes and increasingly prevalent compound wind-rainfall hazards—alongside the spatial heterogeneity of risks and diverse vulnerabilities across urban and rural contexts. This seminar presents ongoing research efforts focused on building hurricane-resilient urban grids through climate-informed optimization frameworks. Specifically, the presentation will cover three complementary themes: (1) Long-term grid hardening and modernization, where high-resolution hurricane modeling is integrated with synthetic distribution networks to enable exposure-tiered reinforcement strategies that optimize infrastructure investments according to spatially diverse risk profiles; (2) Pre-event resilience planning, which addresses compound wind-rainfall hazards and trajectory uncertainties through stochastic optimization of emergency measures tailored to distinct urban-rural network characteristics; and (3) Post-disaster resilient restoration, which explores the integration of social vulnerability metrics alongside economic factors to achieve more equitable and effective recovery outcomes. Through interdisciplinary integration of electrical engineering and earth science, this work aims to contribute practical frameworks for enhancing grid resilience in hurricane-prone regions.   Speaker’s Bio: Shuo Li received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, in 2023. He is currently pursuing dual Ph.D. degrees with the Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, and the School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Tianjin University. His research interests include modeling and optimization of hurricane impacts on urban grids, resilience assessment and planning, and interdisciplinary integration of climate science and power systems engineering.   WEBINAR WEBSITE: https://www.ee.cityu.edu.hk/~cccn/ https://www.ee.cityu.edu.hk/~cccn/centre-seminars.htm

Seminar on "Thermally Drawn Fiber Electronics" by Prof. Zhixun Wang

Date: 17 October 2025, Friday Time: 4:30 PM Venue: P309, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Zoom Meeting ID: 270 294 7238 Password: 123456 Speaker: Prof. Zhixun Wang, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Abstract: Leveraging the well-developed manufacturing technique, fiber thermal drawing, to integrate diverse functional materials - with optical, electrical, magnetic, acoustic, thermal, and mechanical properties—into fibers, expands fiber applications into various fields. These include communications, sensing, energy generation and storage, smart healthcare and more. These multimaterial fibers possess functions while maintaining the features of fibers – flexible, lightweight, and can be woven into a piece of fabric. This report will introduce both the fundamentals and the recent development of thermally drawn electronic fibers, from the materials and structures to their applications. Especially, the incorporation of semiconductor materials within fiber structures offers a distinctive approach to enhance existing fiber technologies with novel capabilities. Here we outline the primary manufacturing methods for creating such fibers, while also examining their potential applications and future development prospects.   Speaker’s Bio: Prof. WANG Zhixun received his B.Eng. (2013) and M.Eng. (2016) degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from Central South University (CSU), and his Ph.D. (2021) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Nanyang Technological University (NTU). He then conducted postdoctoral research at NTU, focusing on developing new types of electronic fibers. His research interests encompass the creation of devices in fiber and fabric form factors for diverse applications, including sensors, actuators, energy harvesters, power supplies, and processors. His work has a highly interdisciplinary nature, combining electrical, mechanical, and materials engineering in the design, fabrication, and integration of fiber devices into system-level architectures. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed papers in journals such as Nature, Nature Communications, Matter, and Chemical Society Reviews.   WEBINAR WEBSITE: https://www.ee.cityu.edu.hk/~cccn/ https://www.ee.cityu.edu.hk/~cccn/centre-seminars.htm

Seminar on "Analysis and Suppression of Electrical Instability for Multi-Vehicle Interconnected Systems in Electrified Railways" by Dr Xiangyu Meng

Date: 10 October 2025, Friday Time: 4:30 PM Venue: FYW-3316, City University of Hong Kong Zoom Meeting ID: 859 8869 4437 Password: 123456 Speaker: Dr Xiangyu Meng, City University of Hong Kong Abstract: To address the instability problem in electrified railways under multi-train interconnection, this report provides a scheme for "impedance modeling - stability analysis - oscillation suppression". First, an impedance identification method for traction converters based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) is constructed. Subsequently, the stability of the multi-train interconnected vehicle-grid system is analyzed. Finally, oscillation suppression is achieved through Deep Reinforcement Learning scheme.   Speaker’s Bio: Meng Xiangyu is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the City University of Hong Kong. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Southwest Jiaotong University in 2025. He was also a visiting Ph.D. student at the University of Manchester. His research focuses on railway vehicle-grid system, resilient microgrids, stability analysis of power electronics-based systems, and data-driven modeling and control of converters using AI. He has served as a reviewer for several IEEE journals. WEBINAR WEBSITE: https://www.ee.cityu.edu.hk/~cccn/ https://www.ee.cityu.edu.hk/~cccn/centre-seminars.htm

EEE Summer Study Tour 2025/26

This summer, the EEE Department embarked on a 10-day Czech Study Tour. This immersive academic and cultural programme, which took place from 19 to 28 August 2025, was led by Prof. K.A. Lee and Mr. Ivan Lau, with a total of 29 students participating. During the tour, the group visited the Brno University of Technology (BUT), one of the most prestigious technical universities in Central Europe. There, they attended lectures and hands-on sessions in cloud computing, computer vision, cybersecurity, machine learning, and speech processing. The itinerary also included cultural visits to Prague and Brno, with sightseeing activities at historic landmarks. Students reflected that the tour not only enhanced their understanding of European technology and culture but also helped them broaden their global perspectives.   Czech Study Tour Video

Seminar on "Towards Resilient Autonomous Cyber-Physical Systems Against Adversarial Examples" by Prof. Qun Song

Date: 26 September 2025, Friday Time: 4:30 PM Venue: FYW-3316, City University of Hong Kong Zoom Meeting ID: 859 8869 4437 Password: 123456 Speaker: Prof. Qun Song, City University of Hong Kong Abstract: Deep learning is shown susceptible to adversarial examples, which are crafted inputs aiming to cause wrong classification outputs for deep models by adding minute perturbations on the clean inputs. Thus, deploying deep learning models on safety-critical cyber-physical systems without incorporating effective countermeasures against adversarial examples raises security concerns. This talk is about the studies on the threat and countermeasures for the adversarial example attack as an ongoing concern for the safety-critical autonomous cyber-physical systems. This talk will introduce the dynamic ensemble-based defenses designed under the strategy of moving target defense that effectively counteract the adaptive adversarial example adversary for embedded deep visual sensing. Speaker’s Bio: Qun Song is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering of City University of Hong Kong. Before that, she was an Assistant Professor in the Information Systems Technology and Design (ISTD) Pillar of Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) from 2024 to 2025 and an Assistant Professor in the Embedded Systems Group of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) at Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands from 2022 to 2024. She received Ph.D. from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and B.Eng. from Nankai University, China. Her research interests include Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT), Cyber-physical system (CPS) robustness and resilience, and autonomous driving security and safety. She is the recipient of the 2023 MobiCom Best Community Contribution Award, the 2022 SenSys Best Paper Award Finalist, and the 2021 IPSN Best Artifact Award Runner-up. WEBINAR WEBSITE: https://www.ee.cityu.edu.hk/~cccn/ https://www.ee.cityu.edu.hk/~cccn/centre-seminars.htm

Seminar on "Unlocking The Demand Side: Virtual Power Plants, Energy Communities and Microgrids" by Prof. Pierluigi Mancarellaon

Date: 22 September 2025, Monday Time: 10:15 am Venue: CD634,  The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Speaker: Prof. Pierluigi Mancarellaon